Page 40 of Picture Us

Rose’s head rolled back. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I’m serious.” Drew nodded, a smile creeping back onto their face. Her heart pounded as Drew’s dimples made an appearance.. “You can’t take actual film in there and try to reel it in the dark without testing it on something disposable first.”

Rose couldn’t help but wince. She had been fortunate that her parents were supportive of her. But hearing Drew call what she could only guess was one of the last pictures of them and their parents “disposable” was tough.

But it was clear from the dents in the film that Drew couldn’t get anything else from the picture, and Rose couldn’t blame them.

Rose sighed, avoiding Drew’s eyes.

“What?” Drew asked.

Rose tilted her head, it was obvious. “It’s embarrassing.”

Drew scrunched their brows together. “Practicing?”

“No, closing your eyes when no one else is.” Rose rolled her eyes. It was the shyest Drew had ever seen her. And their surprise that this was the line for her was clear.

Drew shrugged. “I’ll close mine too.”

With suspicion in her eyes, Rose studied Drew. But after a moment of nudging, she relented and let her eyelids close.

She took a deep breath as darkness took over. A part of her knew Drew wasn’t going to keep their eyes closed the entire time. But Rose kind of liked being vulnerable around them, letting them see her so open.

Once she got her barings, Rose felt around the table and found the edge of the negative as well as the metal lip of the spool.

Okay, that’s a good step.Rose took the negatives and shoved them into the spool, far less cautious than she was before closing her eyes.

She was immediately punished with the sound of crunching. “Shit.”

She opened her eyes, wanting to evaluate where she went wrong. But she was bombarded with light, she saw Drew watching her.

“Liar.” Rose shook her head, narrowing her eyes at Drew.

Drew raised their hands, surrendering. “I closed them for a minute. Try it again.”

They wouldn’t let Rose rip on them for too long, expertly shifting Rose’s direction back to the spool.

Rose groaned.

“Come on, close your eyes.” Drew instructed.

Rolling her eyes, Rose allowed her lids to close.

“Grab the spool.” Drew’s voice grew lower.

Rose did as she was told, holding the metal in her palm. She could hear Drew moving closer. Her breathing escalating, Rose fumbled around the table for the negatives. But no matter where she felt, she couldn’t seem to find them.

Rose could tell Drew was smiling. She jolted as a hand touched hers. No, not touched. Grabbed. Drew pulled her hand in the right direction, letting her grasp the film.

Fuck. Rose gulped as she felt the heat of Drew’s hand on hers.

“Let your finger find the lip.” Their voice was almost a whisper, a low rumble that escaped their chest.

With a firm grip, Drew used their own hand to guide Rose’s to the edge of the spool. Rose could feel their body beginning to press behind hers. It was the same heat and electricity she felt at Henrietta’s the night before.

Blood rushed to her center, where she could feel herself throbbing and aching to be close to Drew again.

Drew’s breath tickled against Rose’s ear as they whispered, “Now, keep one finger on the lip and use the other hand to grab the negative.”

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